Braves ride hot bats to smash Astros 6-2 to open World Series

The Houston Astros got a taste of their own medicine in Game 1 of the World Series as the Atlanta Braves rode a productive night at the plate to take a 6-2 win.

Astros left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez, who delivered a superb effort on the bump in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox, was immediately overwhelmed mere minutes after taking the mound for one of the biggest starts of his career.

Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler set the tone for Atlanta with a lead-off solo home run.

Major League Baseball reported that Soler became the first player in World Series history to achieve the feat.

After Atlanta's third baseman Austin Riley hit an RBI to create a two-run deficit for Houston, outfielder Adam Duvall cracked the game wide open in the third for the Braves with a two-shot home run in the third, MLB reported.

Following Valdez's exit in the third, the Astros were sustained by their bullpen through five innings.

Rookie centerfielder Chas McCormick chipped in an RBI in the fourth, while shortstop Carlos Correa hit an RBI groundout in the eighth to give Houston its lone two runs of the evening.

The Astros have yet to win the first game of the World Series, losing all four openers since their first Fall Classic in 2005.

According to ESPN, as reported by ABC13, the Astros began the 2021 regular season with 22-1 odds to win the World Series.

The Astros will try to salvage home-field advantage in Game 2, which begins tonight at 7:09 p.m.